The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-04-13
Conservative, Loyal, Useful.
By Rev. A. J. Cauthen, of the South
Carolina Conference.

COnSerFatlYc, Loyal, USelul.
By Rev. A. J. Cauthen, Of the South
Carolina Conference.
Some of your friends will doubtless
select some special subject upon which
to prepare contributory article for the
10Th anniversary of the Christian
Neighbor. I hope you will allow me
the liberty Of making sort of variety
contribution. First of all, 1 offer my
sincere
CONGRATULATIONS,
dear Neighbor, on your continued
healthy and useful existence. Life is
an inestimable blessing; but how our
conceptions of its value are frightened,
when it is devoted to the exalted OBJ
iects of modifying human suffering,
and of promoting human happiness,
with the outcome of growing useful
ness. Such, in a good measure, has
been the lively career of the Neigh6or
as it has gone forth from week to week
for nearly twenty years in the interest
of
and religion in all of its branches.
Some of your habitual readers have
honestly dissented from some of your
utterances; but none have doubted the
honesty and earn estness of the Editor.
nor hesitated to concede the desirable
ness of "peace as opposed to carnal
war" Many persons who have never
identified themselves with the Peace
Society, are in harmony with the
Neighbor as to the doctrine that peace
is right, and that war is wrong, with
all possible emphasis. The Neighbor
has not been slow to discover, nor
backward to properly characterize
VICE
in high places, and in low places; and
to point out the true and right way {;
an essential function of a religious jour-
nalist: requiring good judgment and
unflinching courage: elements for
which there will he growing demand
with the influx of heterogeneous
mass of new corners to this fair land of
ours.
LOYALTY TO OUR CHURCH,
and liberal contributions to her devel-
opment, and upbuilding has not been
withheld. Sometimes old beliefs and
methods, as well as dang erous innova-
tions, have been criticised with start:
ling boldness and vim, but with defer
ence and courtesy to those holding op-
posite views. Often good cause is
damaged, and unnecessary offence
given by disregard of the amenities
due, one to the other, in the warmest
discussions.
OUR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS,
and agencies have received commenda-
BILE attention and support from the Ed
itor personally, and your columns
have been offered, and often accepted
by others for the promotion of our
church work generally. So far as 1
have observed, the Neighbor has been
with the rest of us, the pronounced
friend and advocate of our schools and
Colleges; attaching due importance to
them for the general good, and also as
offering useful advantages to those who
are called of God to the work of the
ministry, and can avail themselves of
such advantages: but not held by the
wisest, as a sine qua non, either for
a6ility to expound the gospel, or to
lead our hosts in the organized work
of soul-saving under the divine bless
ing, which our ministry has enjoyed
abundantly. With a wise conserva-
tism, and yet prudently aggressive,
YOU have never Yentured upon extreme
ground as opposed to Methodist ante
cedents, and Methodist requirements
on the subject Of ministerial education
and other vital points in our heaven
blest system. Such revolutionary sug-
gestions anent our itinerant economy (;
such harsh and harmful utterances as
were published In the Southern dletho-
dist RevieaO, Nov. 1886, under the head
ing "Methodism and Ministerial Edu-
cation,n never found expression in the
Christian Neighbor, nor any other
Methodist publication that 1 am aware
of.
Those who read the article referred
to, should read the reply to it in the
March number Of the ReUieO for 1887
"a temperate, wise and opportune pa
per on a vital subject. One that will
be appreciated by the crank and hle," I"
many of whom never had college
training, but are nevertheless able eX-
FOUNDERS Of the gospel, men who nave
proven their divine call to the minis
try by "signs following" Pure men,
who help in many ways to keep up
institutions of learning, that furnish
employment and bread, to few per-
haps, who know but little of the felt
responsibilities, and usefulness Of the
Methodist ministry.
Invoke for you many more years of
usefulness, and the return of scores OF
happy anniversaries.